Dynamics of surge‐type glaciers in West Kunlun Shan, Northwestern Tibet

Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface - Tập 120 Số 11 - Trang 2393-2405 - 2015
Takatoshi Yasuda1, Masato Furuya1
1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

Tóm tắt

AbstractHere we examine 31 glaciers in the West Kunlun Shan of the northwestern Tibetan Plateau and identify 9 as surge type. The method is based on satellite synthetic aperture radar and Landsat optical images, the former going back to 1992, the latter to 1972. To identify surge‐type glaciers, we consider temporal changes in velocity, changes in glacier terminus position, propagation of a surge bulge, presence of looped and/or contoured medial moraines, and extensive crevassing. Other than the nine surge‐type glaciers, we identify two that have likely surged, and six that may be surge type. But no glacier surges more than once during the observation period, meaning that the recurrence interval exceeds 42 years. In addition, we examine the evolution of the surface velocities at two surging glaciers with the unprecedented temporal resolution of down to 11 days over ∼7 years. The results show clear seasonal modulations by as much as ∼200% in early winter against those in early summer. This seasonal modulation in surface velocity suggests the presence of surface meltwater that reroutes through the englacial and subglacial drainage systems. Thus, our findings suggest that the hydrological processes originating in the surface meltwater play an important role in maintaining the yearlong active surging phase.

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Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface

Tập 120 Số 11

2393-2405

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